Ernest Debenham

Born at 42 Wigmore Street, Marylebone, he was the son of Frank Debenham and his wife Emma Folkard née Ridley.{{cite ODNB|last1=Shaw|first1=Gareth|title=Debenham, Sir Ernest Ridley, first baronet (1865–1952), department store owner|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47416|accessdate=8 June 2014|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/47416 }} Educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Cambridge,{{acad|id=DBNN883ER|name=Debenham, Ernest Ridley}}

At the age of 27 he joined the successful business of Debenham & Co., which had been run by his grandfather and father. His restructuring activities led to the splitting of the manufacturing from the retail side of the business, under the name Debenham & Freebody (Freebody was the maiden name of his grandmother). He effected a merger with Marshall & Snelgrove as well as a takeover of Harvey Nichols. He was noted for his paternalistic attitude towards his staff, providing medical and educational support. He was also a pioneer in the dairy industry.

On 8 November 1892 he married Cicely Kenrick (1869–1950), daughter of William Kenrick. The couple had eight children, including the artist Alison Debenham.{{cite book|author=David Buckman|publisher=Art Dictionaries Ltd|year=2006|title=Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L |isbn=0-953260-95-X}}

Debenham had an interest in politics, and was a supporter of the Conservative Party. Although he considered entering parliament, his business interests prevented this. He did enter local politics, however. He was a member of St Marylebone Borough Council, serving as mayor of the borough in 1910–12.{{cite news|title=Election of Mayors|work=The Times|date=10 November 1910|page=8}}{{cite news|title=Election of Mayors|work=The Times|date=10 November 1911|page=7}} He was also a member of the London County Council. He was elected unopposed at a by-election on 28 February 1912 for the Conservative-backed Municipal Reform party to represent the Marylebone East division, remaining a councillor until 1919.

On his retirement in 1927 he sold most of his shares in the firm for £1.8M, so severing his family's connections with the retail chain that still bears his name. He devoted the rest of his life to dairy farming on his estates in Dorset. He was created a baronet, of Bladen in the County of Dorset, in 1931.{{London Gazette |issue=33686 |date=3 February 1931 |page=744}} He died on Christmas Day 1952 at Moor Lane House, Briantspuddle, Dorset, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son, Piers Kenrick Debenham, born in 1904.

• [https://specialcollections.raynordslab.org/om/s/plates/item/1493 Ernest Ridley Debenham's Bookplate] at Raynor Library's Ex Libris Collection.

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{{s-ttl|title= Owner of Debenhams|years= 1892–1927}}

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Category:1865 births

Category:1952 deaths

Category:People educated at Marlborough College

Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge

Category:English businesspeople in retailing

Ernest

Category:Debenhams

Category:Members of London County Council

Category:Municipal Reform Party politicians

Category:Mayors of places in Greater London

Category:Members of St Marylebone Metropolitan Borough Council

Category:Conservative Party (UK) councillors